News Home

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) stood up today to protect the sanctity of human life by voting against H.R. 3, The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. This legislation permits federal funding for the first time of research involving the intentional destruction of human embryos to extract their stem cells.

"I fully support ethical stem cell research on stem cells derived from adults, placentas, cord blood cells, and amniotic fluid, but I do not support embryonic stem cell research which destroys human life. We all want and should work toward finding cures for diseases, but we should not sacrifice another human being's life to do so. The push for federal funding of stem cell research involving the destruction of human embryos is especially unwise when current, ethical research has given us 72 cures and therapies for diseases thus far and embryonic stem cell research over the past two decades has produced no treatments or cures. Indeed, because of the very negative results of embryonic research in animals, it is deemed too dangerous to try in humans.

"Embryonic stem cells are unstable, grow uncontrollably, and form tumors. To give hope that embryonic stem cell research is the panacea for many diseases is cruel and misleading. Furthermore, what Congress debated today involves federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. There is no ban on private funding of this research in America. We should not force American taxpayers to fund research many of them find unethical, immoral, and ineffective. I cannot in good conscience support federal funding for research that destroys human life. The sanctity of life is a gift from God and must be cherished and protected," stated Foxx.